Hu's in the US on four day tour

Ahead of China’s President Hu Jintao’s arrival, the Yuan was a big issue in the US. It is likely to be high on the agenda when President Hu meets with the US President on Thursday. Pressure is on Washington to increase tariffs on Chinese imports. This is in response to China’s continued resistance to revalue the Yuan which many feel is highly undervalued and gives China an increased competitive edge. Hu Jintao flew into the US on Monday but there was little fanfare and even less news coverage. CNN brought viewers a few special reports about China’s attempted crackdown on pirated software and DVDs and the continuing sandstorms that are sweeping across from Mongolia and covering Beijing in a fine covering of red dust. Software piracy was the issue of the day as Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, met with the Chinese President on Wednesday [CNN / BBC]. Hu is under great pressure to curtail the manufacture of pirated and counterfeit products. CCTV 9 reported that several thousand Yuan in damages were awarded to companies affected by Beijing’s Silk Street market which has seen the selling of many pirated goods. In January the International Herald Tribune reported that Chanel and Prada as well as other leading companies had won a lawsuit against the market [IHT]. The piracy trade accounts for losses estimated at $60 million per year throughout China. It is believed to be te first such case against a landlord for preventing the sale of counterfeit products. Cases brought against those whom have infringed copyright are not new however. In another case Shanghai Xingbake Coffee Shop was ordered by a Shanghai court to pay Starbucks 500,000 yuan [$60,000]in damages and to stop using its name and logo, the Seattle-based retailer said. The award against Xingbake, whose name translates to Starbucks in English, may be one of the largest against a Chinese company for trademark infringement, said Fred Mostert, former president of the International Trademark Association. In the last 18 months China has prosecuted nearly 200 individuals and imposed fines exceeding 400 million Yuan [$48 million]. But China expert James McGregor told CNN Wednesday that "time has run out" for Beijing on intellectual property rights abuses, saying support for China in the U.S. Congress was being eroded by this issue. In contrast to the lack of congressional support, film director Steven Spielberg has pledged his support to help design Beijing’s 2008 Olympic ceremonies [China Daily]. He is to aid top Chinese film maker Zhang Yimou.